Unique and Universal: Challenges for the Manuscript Librarian

European Manuscript Librarians Expert Group, 7th Conference
The Library of Trinity College Dublin, 25-27 May 2016

The unique character of manuscripts and the universal content, the universal interest and the universal responsibility gave the frame and the opportunity for 14 colleagues to present their papers and to enter into discussion about their work and their ideas. All papers had in common a very practice-oriented approach. Thus the conference was very much dedicated to those themes which in all European Manuscript Departments are regarded as important for today’s works as well as for future developments.

Commemorations and Anniversaries
The conference started with three presentations by colleagues of the TCD and from the United Kingdom and Norway which gave a broad overview of ongoing work in the libraries.

Materiality
The next papers dealt with the materiality of manuscripts. After two presentations from the TCD colleagues from the Netherlands, Denmark, and the United Kingdom informed about ongoing research with the manuscripts themselves.

Post-digital Issues and Concerns
The conference ended with papers and discussion about the future of manuscript librarians work and the challenges and chances for scholars and the work with digital material. The papers were given by colleagues from the United Kingdom and from Germany.